Antigua PM Gaston Browne: Mehul Choksi could have citizenship revoked

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jun 26, 2019

The Prime Minister of Antigua, Gaston Browne, is open to considering revoking accused jeweller Mehul Choksi’s Antigua and Barbuda citizenship which could lead to his extradition to India to stand trial for his alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank.

"Choksi's citizenship was processed, he got through,” Browne told the Antigua Observer. “We do have recourse, the reality is that his citizenship will be revoked and he will be deported to India."

"The matter is before the court presently, so we have to allow for due process,” Browne told the local newspaper. “We have conveyed to the Indian government that criminals also have fundamental rights and Choksi has the right to go to court... But I can assure you, after he has exhausted all his legal options, he will be extradited."

Indian authorities are still working on negotiations with Antigua and Barbuda authorities over the extradition of Choksi who is wanted as part of the Rs 13,500 crore ($2 billion) fraud at the PNB along with his nephew Nirav Modi. Indian authorities are also currently involved in legal proceedings in the UK over the possible extradition of Modi from the UK to India. Choksi is currently living freely in Antigua and Modi is currently being held by UK authorities in a jail near London.